Heating apparatus



Dec. 19, 1933. G A GUENTHE'JR 1,940,587

HEATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 19, 1 933. E E 1,940,587

HEATING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 14. 19 29 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ///JY////////////////////A MIMI fivenioz;

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v ifiarizeu Patented Dec. 19, I933 -um'rizn STATES 1,940,587 o I HEATING APPARATUS George A. Guenther, Bufl'alo, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Michael J. Murphy, Allen E. Ames, and Laurence Block, all of Ellicottville, N. Y., and Jacob Kleindinst, Orchard Park, N. Y., doing business as Duplex Gas Heating Holding Company, Ellicottville, N. Y.

Application September 14, 1929 Serial No. 392,506

. 5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to improvements in heating apparatus but more particularly to a gas heating system wherein the combustible mixture is burned in a partial vacuum.

5 One of its objects is the provision of, an automatic apparatus of this character which is efiicient and economical in operation, and which, is adaptable for use with the various types of heating, such as vapor, hotwater, steam or' hotair.

Another object of the invention is ,to provide a gas-burning heating system whose parts are so designedas to provide maximum safety, to eliminate dust, smudge and gas fumes,-and which is positive and reliable in operation and not liable to get out of order. v

A further object is to provide novel and positive means for automatically controlling the admission of gas to the burner of the heating apparatus. A still further object of the invention is the provisionof reliable and efiective means for insuring the. admission of gas at a constant pressure to the burners, irrespective of the variation in pressure at the source of supply.

Other features of my invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

-In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a front view of my improved heating apparatus as applied to a radiator type of heater. Figure 2 is a-transverse section'thereof taken on line 2-2, Figure 1. Figure 3 is'an enlarged vertical section taken substantially in the plane of line 3-3, Figure2. Figure 4 is a front view of the radiator and the various connections associated therewith. i

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 40 While my invention is adaptable to the various types of heating systems in general use, it has been shown, by way of example, in connection with a radiator type of heater, which maybe used as a separate heating unit located where the heat is most needed, as in the bath room, or which may be combined with others to provide an entire heating system, each radiatonhavin'g its own thermostatic control so that it 'operate independently of the others.

Referring now to' the drawings, 10 indicates the radiator which is of the sectional type and is provided with a burner-box or combustion chamber 11 located substantially centrally thereof. The upper. end of the burner-box communi cates with the adjacent inner radiator sections 'one constituting a regulating valve for governnrixture of gas and air and consequently, comwhich are connected at their lower ends to a pipe 12. This pipe is joined to an exhaust conduit 13' connected with an exhaust fan 14 or other 'source ofartificial suction, the fan providing a constant vacuum in the system for ex- 00 hausting the gases therefrom and for controlling the operation thereof, as will be hereinafter described. A hinged door 15 having a window 16 is applied to the front side of the burner-boxv for gaining access thereto, when desired.

Located within the burner-box is a suitable gas burner 17 which is shown mounted on the upper end of a mixing tube or chamber 18 fastened to the bottom wall of said burner-box, such chambe having a gas and an air intake to '70 which comes onding pipes 19 and 20 are connected, respectively. The air intake pipe 20 and the intake of the exhaust device are preferably connected with the outside air, so that no waste gases .-will escape through these parts into the rooms under abnormal conditions.

The gas intake pipe 19 is'adapted for connection with the source of domestic supply and interposed in this pipe line are two gas control valves,

ing the amount of gas delivered to the burner and designed to providefor a constant volume of gas being delivered to the'burner at all times, irrespective of the pressure available at the source, so as to insure a constant proportionate plete combustion. The other valve, which is automatic and electrically controlled, is located between the first-named valve and the burner and serves to govern the direct flow of gas toll) the burner.

last-named valve consists of a body 21 interposed between and communicating at its inlet and outlet ends with the adjoining branches 22, 23 of the gas pipe 19, the flow of gas to the burner passing through a port 24 in the valvebody; Surrounding this port isa seat 25 and movable toward and from the seatis an automatic valve 26 for shutting off or admitting gas to the burner 16. This valve is preferably elec-' trically operated through the medium of a solenoid 27 suspended from the valve-body and whose movable .core or plunger 28 is connected to the depending valve-stem 29. The solenoid may be. applied to a holder 30 screwed or otherwise fitted to the valve-body, said holder having a screw cap 31 at its lower end which encases the flange or collar 32 formed at the lower end of the solenoidcore. When the solenoid is energized, its core is raised and the valve 26 is lifted on its seat, there- 1 by admitting gas to the burner: when the solenoid is deenergized the valve drops by gravity onto its seat, shutting off the admission of gas to the burner. As seen in Figure 1, the solenoid and the valves are located below the burner-box where they are out of the zone of greatest heat.

The solenoid is included in an electric circuit composed of the wires 33, 34 and a battery 35 or other source of electrical energy, and is controlled by a switch governed by the suction pressure present in the burner. This switch is preferably applied to the lower end of the mixing tube 18 and consists ofa metallic disk 36 and a contact 37 which is movable into and out of engagement with the disk and is carried by a diaphragm 38, the latter and said disk being held in place by a screw cap 39 applied to the mixing tube, as seen in Figure 3. The wire 33 of the solenoid is connected to the contact 37 while the other wire is connected to one of the poles of the battery, the other pole thereof and the disk 36 being grounded. The disk, which is disposed above the diaphragm, has a vent or opening 40 therein so as to expose the latter to the action of the suction within the burner-body. In order to insure safety and positive action of the diaphragm and switch elements. a vacuum tube 41 is "arranged within the mixing tube, opening at its lower end directly over the disk 36 and at its upper end into the body of the bumer 16. -As shown in Figure 3. the vacuum tube extends upward beyond the air intake 19 and preferably terminates at its upper end adjacent the neck of the burner. By arranging the vacuum tube in this manner and opening it into the burner-body rather than into the combustion chamber 11, a maximum safety of operation is afforded. If for any reason thevacuum should cease. as by opening the' door 15 of the burner-box or by the stoppage of the suction fan. the diaphragm 38 drops by gravity, breaking the solenoid circuit at 36, 37 and closing the gas control valve 26 and cutting oil the supply of gas to the burner. Should the burner become clogged for any reason, the suction pressure will not circulate through the burner-body and hence the vacuum switch elements 36. 3'7 will remain open and gas will not be admitted to the burner.

The regulating valve, which functions to deliver a constant volume of gas to the burner 16 irrespective of the variance in pressure at the source of supply, is interposed between the gas supply pipe 42 and the gas control valve 26. It consists of a valve-body 43 connected at its inlet side to the gas supply pipe and at its outlet side to the branch pipe 22 which is connected to the valve-body 21. The valve-body 43 is also in communication with suction pressure and surmounting and opening into the same is a diaphragm body" or chamber 44 containing a diaphragm 45 to which a depending valve-stem 46 is connected. At its lower end the valve-body 43 has a downwardly-facing valve-seat 4'7, and applied to the stem 46 is a ball-valve 48 movable automatically toward and from such seat to regulate and maintain a uniform supply of gas to the burner. The weight of the valve 48 is such that when the gas pressure is low it permits the free flow of gas to the burners. Should the gas 3 pressure be high then the valve will close proportionately to maintain the constant volume of gas delivered to the burner. When the apparatus is in operation and the suction is on, the diaphragm 45 is lowered to open the valve 48 a proportionate amount depending on the gas pressure, and as the gas pressure fluctuates the valve automatically compensates for such fluctuation and insures a uniform and constant volume of gas to the burner or burners at all times. This also affords a material saving to the consumer, in that it reduces the gas consumption to a minimum. Furthermore. there are no adjustments necessary and the valve mechanisms are not liable to get out of order.

As is usual with gas burners, a pilot burner 49 is provided which may be connected by a pipe 50 with the branch 22 of the gas pipe disposed beyond the regulating valve 48.

A thermostat 51 may be included in the solenoid circuit for also controlling the opening and closing of the valve 26 to keep the room at the desired temperature.

Briefly stated the operation of the heating system is as follows: 4

Assuming the pilot burner 49 to be lit, the suctionfan 14 is started which acts to automatically control the other instrumentalities of the system. In addition to drawing in the air through the intake pipe20 for mixture with the gas to eflect combustion. it acts on the diaphragm 38 to close the circuit of the solenoid 27 at the contacts 36, 37 thereby energizing the solenoid, lifting its plunger 28 to open the gas control valve 26 and admitting gas to the mixing tube 18. This gas is thoroughly mixed with the. air introduced through 185 the intake 20 and the resulting mixture is thence delivered to the burner 17 where it is ignited by the pilot. In addition to controlling the opening of the valve 26. the suction also acts on the regulating valve 48 to maintain the volume of no gas constant. in the manner heretofore described. Should the door 15 of the burner-box be opened, the suction will be destroyed, the switch contacts will be opened by reason of the diaphragm dropping to its lowered position and the valve 26 will 1115 close, shutting off the admission of gas to the burner. Likewise if the electric power should for any reason go off or the suction fan stop running, the gas control valve will automatically close. Further, if the burner holes should be plugged up with dirt, the suction system will not properly function and opening of the gas control valve is thereby prevented.

I claim as my invention:-

v 1. A gas heating apparatus, comprising a combustion chamber, a burner therefor, a suction device communicating with said combustion chamber and operable to draw the products of combustion therefrom, a mixing tube for the gas and air in communication with the said burner, a valve for controlling the admission of fuel to the burner, an electric circuit, electric means included in said circuit for actuating said valve,

a suction chamber applied to and in communication with said mixing tube at its upper end and interposed between the burner and said fuel valve,

a diaphragm arranged in the lower end of said suction chamber and carrying a switch-contact, and a second switch-contact disposed in operative relation to the first-named switch contact, both of said contacts being included in the circult-of the valve-actuating means.

2. A gas heating apparatus, comprising a combustion chamber, a burner therefor, a suction device communicating with said combusticn chambar and operable to draw the products of com- ,bustion therefrom, a mixing tube for the gas the lower end of said tube containing a diaphragm operable by the suction, a valve for controlling the admission of fuel to the burner, an electric circuit, electric means included in said circuit for actuating said valve, and a switch operable by said diaphragm for controlling said valve-actuating means, said switch consisting of a. disk disposed in the suction tube over the diaphragm and having an opening therein, and a contact applied to the diaphragm for engagement with said disk.

3. A gas heating apparatus, comprising a combustion chamber, a burner therefor, a suction device communicating with said combustion chamber and operable to draw the products of combustion therefrom, a mixing tube for the gas and air in communication with said burner, a fuel supply pipe connected to said mixing tube, a regulating valve in said pipe for automatically governing the volume of fuel delivered to the burner, said valve including a suction-operated diaphragm tending to open said valve against the pressure in the fuel line, a valve interposed in the fuel supply pipe between the regulating valve and the mixing tube for controlling the admission of fuel to the burner, electric mean for actuating said valve, and a suction-operat d switch ap-- plied to said mixing tube and/ posed to the suction pressure therein for controlling said electrically-actuated valve.

4. A heating apparatus, comprising a radiator, a combustion chamber, a burner therefor, a suction device operable to remove the products of combustion from the combustion chamber through the radiator, a valve for controlling the admission of fuel to the burner, a suction tube opening at its upper end within said burner, and electro-vacuum controlled means for effecting the automatic opening of said valve when the vacuum created by said suction device is normal and for closing said valve when the vacuum condition is abnormal, the vacuum-controlled element of said valve governing means being disposed in the lower end of said suction tube between the combustion chamber and the valve, and the electro-controlled element of said governing means being associated directly with said valve.

5. A gas heating apparatus, comprising a radiator having a combustion chamber, a burner therefor, a suction device communicating with said combustion chamber and operable to draw the productsof combustion therefrom, a mixing tube for the gas and air depending from and in communication with the said burner, a gas conduit connected to said mixing tube, a valve disposed in said gas conduit for controlling the admission of fuel to the burner, electric means supported on the gas conduit remote from the burnor for actuating said valve, and a suction-operated switch arranged between the burner and the gas valve and applied to said mixing tube for controlling said valve-actuating means.

GEORGE A. GUENTHER. 

